Michael Thompson (Canadian politician): Difference between revisions
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With a focus on "law and order" issues, Thompson is considered{{by whom|date=March 2015}} one of the more right-wing members of Toronto council. Soon after his election, he earned considerable and generally positive media attention{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} for his forceful calls to address urban violence. He campaigned for a time to retain [[Julian Fantino]] as chief of the [[Toronto Police Service]], and also pushed for a hotline to report troublesome rodents. |
With a focus on "law and order" issues, Thompson is considered{{by whom|date=March 2015}} one of the more right-wing members of Toronto council. Soon after his election, he earned considerable and generally positive media attention{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} for his forceful calls to address urban violence. He campaigned for a time to retain [[Julian Fantino]] as chief of the [[Toronto Police Service]], and also pushed for a hotline to report troublesome rodents. |
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In the summer of 2005, during what many{{how many|date=March 2015}} saw as a wave of shootings in Toronto, particularly in certain low-income neighbourhoods, Thompson garnered national attention for a suggestion that Toronto police should potentially be allowed or expected to stop and search young Black Canadian males at random. Thompson argued that a large percentage of the guns being used and a large number of victims are in the black community. Many{{how many|date=March 2015}} accused Thompson of [[racial profiling]] and also expressed surprise that a black politician would suggest such an idea. Thompson himself said that he did not actually suggest racial profiling and later clarified his proposal, stating that he would not call for police to pull people over just because they're black, but rather because [[gun violence]] was affecting the black community. Thompson said that phone calls and e-mails received by his office had been mostly positive.<ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1124230476900_119639676/?hub=TopStories CTV.ca]{{ |
In the summer of 2005, during what many{{how many|date=March 2015}} saw as a wave of shootings in Toronto, particularly in certain low-income neighbourhoods, Thompson garnered national attention for a suggestion that Toronto police should potentially be allowed or expected to stop and search young Black Canadian males at random. Thompson argued that a large percentage of the guns being used and a large number of victims are in the black community. Many{{how many|date=March 2015}} accused Thompson of [[racial profiling]] and also expressed surprise that a black politician would suggest such an idea. Thompson himself said that he did not actually suggest racial profiling and later clarified his proposal, stating that he would not call for police to pull people over just because they're black, but rather because [[gun violence]] was affecting the black community. Thompson said that phone calls and e-mails received by his office had been mostly positive.<ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1124230476900_119639676/?hub=TopStories CTV.ca] {{wayback|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1124230476900_119639676/?hub=TopStories |date=20070311003514 }}</ref> |
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Despite this, Thompson quickly withdrew the suggestion, saying it was "not an idea we can or should try", and characterizing his comment as an "off-the-cuff" remark born of frustration with recent violence. Some critics suggested it could have been a calculated attempt to position himself for political advantage, perhaps for a conservative candidacy for mayor. Thompson denied he was thinking of a mayoral run.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} |
Despite this, Thompson quickly withdrew the suggestion, saying it was "not an idea we can or should try", and characterizing his comment as an "off-the-cuff" remark born of frustration with recent violence. Some critics suggested it could have been a calculated attempt to position himself for political advantage, perhaps for a conservative candidacy for mayor. Thompson denied he was thinking of a mayoral run.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} |
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|
Michael Thompson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Book donation ceremony at Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute on Nov 1, 2013 | |
| Toronto City Councillor for (Ward 37) Scarborough Centre | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Lorenzo Berardinetti |
| Chair of the Scarborough Community Council | |
| In office June 27, 2005 – December 1, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond Cho |
| Succeeded by | Norm Kelly |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Residence(s) | Toronto, Ontario |
Michael Thompson is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. He represents Ward 37, the western half of Scarborough Centre. Raised in Scarborough is an Jamaican Canadian. He is currently Vice Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.
Early life
Thompson graduated from Ionview Public School and Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate in Scarborough. Prior to being elected as a city councillor, he worked in the financial services industry, and founded a business services company.[citation needed]
Political career
He entered local politics in 1994 but was defeated in his attempt to win election to Metro Toronto council by Norm Kelly. In 1998 he became assistant to Councillor Lorenzo Berardinetti. When Berardinetti was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Thompson ran to replace him in the 2003 Toronto municipal election. Six other candidates ran against him; his main opponent was Laura-Maria Nikolareizi, an associate of outgoing Toronto mayor Mel Lastman.
With a focus on "law and order" issues, Thompson is considered[by whom?] one of the more right-wing members of Toronto council. Soon after his election, he earned considerable and generally positive media attention[citation needed] for his forceful calls to address urban violence. He campaigned for a time to retain Julian Fantino as chief of the Toronto Police Service, and also pushed for a hotline to report troublesome rodents.
In the summer of 2005, during what many[quantify] saw as a wave of shootings in Toronto, particularly in certain low-income neighbourhoods, Thompson garnered national attention for a suggestion that Toronto police should potentially be allowed or expected to stop and search young Black Canadian males at random. Thompson argued that a large percentage of the guns being used and a large number of victims are in the black community. Many[quantify] accused Thompson of racial profiling and also expressed surprise that a black politician would suggest such an idea. Thompson himself said that he did not actually suggest racial profiling and later clarified his proposal, stating that he would not call for police to pull people over just because they're black, but rather because gun violence was affecting the black community. Thompson said that phone calls and e-mails received by his office had been mostly positive.[1]
Despite this, Thompson quickly withdrew the suggestion, saying it was "not an idea we can or should try", and characterizing his comment as an "off-the-cuff" remark born of frustration with recent violence. Some critics suggested it could have been a calculated attempt to position himself for political advantage, perhaps for a conservative candidacy for mayor. Thompson denied he was thinking of a mayoral run.[citation needed]
Thompson and other Scarborough-area city councillors are currently campaigning to replace the Scarborough RT with a tunnelled extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway, arguing they could gain more ridership than the proposed Spadina line extension to York University.[2]
In November 2013, during the Rob Ford scandal over his behavior and drug use, city Councillors met to question Ford. Thompson questioned Ford about an alleged crack house. Ford replied “Have you visited the house? Have you walked in the house?” Thompson replied “I have no interest in being in that house. I am not a crack user.”[3]
Election results
| 2014 Toronto election, Ward 37 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Thompson | 16,315 | 80.683% |
| Niranjan Balachandran | 2,440 | 12.067% |
| Luigi Lisciandro | 1,466 | 7.250% |
| Total | 20,221 | 100% |
Unofficial results as of October 27, 2014 11:51 PM [4]
| 2010 Toronto election, Ward 37 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Thompson | 15,129 | 83.636% |
| Isabelle Champagne | 1,571 | 8.685% |
| Fawzi Bidawi | 1,014 | 5.606% |
| Sergio Otoya Salazar | 375 | 2.073% |
| Total | 18,089 | 100% |
2010 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [5]
| 2006 Toronto election, Ward 37 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Thompson | 11,987 | 87.146% |
| Isabelle Champagne | 1,094 | 7.953% |
| Fawzi Bidawi | 674 | 4.900% |
| Total | 13,755 | 100% |
2006 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [6]
| 2003 Toronto election, Ward 37 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Thompson | 7,680 | 49.568% |
| Helen Zoubaniotis | 4,124 | 26.617% |
| Laura-Maria Nikolareizi | 1,156 | 7.461% |
| Andrew Schulz | 1,081 | 6.977% |
| Greg Crompton | 553 | 3.569% |
| David Finnamore | 470 | 3.033% |
| Georges Legault | 430 | 2.775% |
| Total | 15,494 | 100% |
2003 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [7]
References
- ^ CTV.ca Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "thestar.com - Toronto Star - Canada's largest daily". thestar.com.[dead link]
- ^ "Toronto council to vote on stripping Ford of some mayoral powers". thestar.com.
- ^ "Election Results | City of Toronto | 2014 General Election Results for City Ward 37 - Scarborough Centre". October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, October 25, 2010" (PDF). October 28, 2010. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 13, 2006" (PDF). November 16, 2006. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 10, 2003" (PDF). November 13, 2003. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
External links
